top·​side | \ ˈtäp-ˈsīd How to pronounce topside (audio) \

Definition of topside

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to or on the top or surface
2 : in a position of authority
3 : on deck

topside

noun

Definition of topside (Entry 2 of 2)

1 topsides plural : the top portion of the outer surface of a ship on each side above the waterline
2 : the highest level of authority
3 : the upper portion of the ionosphere

Examples of topside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb or adjective

Made a few 4x4’s in afternoon & went up topside a while. Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, "Service Diary of a Corpsman: Roy L. Wall, LST 509," 28 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Only the five crew members, who were topside and awake when the fire took hold, managed to escape. Los Angeles Times, "Once the fire started, it was too late for many on board the Conception," 3 Sep. 2019 That topside is almost certainly meant to support a larger, wider sail with missile launch tubes inside. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "A Closer Look at North Korea's "New" Missile Submarine," 23 July 2019 When complete, the topside of Eisenhower will boast more than 1,800 modules. Bob Dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A first-of-its-kind project in New Berlin is turning school roofs into solar energy collectors," 19 June 2019 Some species are two-toned, with purple topsides and pink underbellies. Jason Bittel, National Geographic, "Caecilians," 27 June 2019 Because there’s no outboard hanging off the back, the whole topside of the hull is usable. Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "Testing the Yamaha 210 FSH: The Boat That Blew Up the Formula," 31 Aug. 2018 The only connection with topside is via the elevator. Scott Craven, azcentral, "Grand Canyon Caverns: Arizona's deepest, darkest hotel room," 5 Mar. 2018 The pulverized rock comes out the back via conveyor belt to be loaded onto rail cars and hauled topside. Washington Post, "Fixing a massive NYC plumbing leak, 55 stories underground," 20 June 2018 After noon chow topside again. Pulled within 3000 yards of beachhead. Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, "Service Diary of a Corpsman: Roy L. Wall, LST 509," 28 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'topside.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of topside

Adverb or adjective

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for topside

topside

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of topside

: on or onto the deck of a ship